Editorial | Farmington Flyer

Sophie Bush: Celebrity who refuses to shop at Urban Outfitters because of their pro anorexic designs (Photo courtesy of Google Images)

By Kerri-Lyn Traves, Vice President

Zero is not a size, Don’t even get me started on a triple zero

The other week I browsed through the many racks of Aeropostale in the mall, I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw a shocking size on a pair of pants: “000,” that’s right, a TRIPLE zero. Um, excuse me? How small are girls getting nowadays that they can squeeze their little non-existent thighs into those jeans?

Urban Outfitters has released a shirt that reads, “Eat less.” They are promoting eating disorders across the globe. Why would you sell something that is literally telling people to be anorexic? The same store has also released a shirt that says “Are you sick enough?”

There are blogs all across the blogosphere about being “pro-ana” That stands for pro anorexic. These people think it’s okay, maybe even good, to starve themselves or throw up their food. News flash-it’s not healthy. You need to treat your body with respect.

I understand that many people are affected by the diseases of anorexia nervosa and bulimia and I truly feel sorry for them and would love to help each and every one of them if I could. My disappointment is not in them. My disappointment is in those who promote it like it’s some kind of fad.

A survey in 2007 showed that 46% of students were trying to lose weight, while “only a quarter were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.” Four times as many females believed they were overweight than actually were. Ten percent of these girls were fasting, five percent were taking diet pills, and six percent of them were forcing themselves to vomit (www.mainecshp.com). Eighteen to twenty percent of anorexics will die after twenty years (Mirasol.net).

Eating disorders are a serious problem (the highest mortality rate of any mental illness) and shouldn’t be taken lightly (state.sc.us), or promoted! Instead of selling size triple zero jeans, make those girls gain weight until they fit in a normal size (my apologies to those who have health issues which make it physically difficult to gain weight-I’m not referring to you).

I highly believe in treating your body like a temple. You should eat healthy foods and stay physically active. I also believe everyone needs a day to just eat whatever the heck they want and not feel bad about it. Most importantly, you should stay at a healthy weight, not overweight, not underweight, a healthy weight, and you should be so proud of yourself for doing that.